Accrington Stanley manager Leam Richardson is leaving the club to become assistant manager at Chesterfield.

Richardson took charge at Stanley in November, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract, so a compensation deal has been agreed between the two clubs after the 33-year-old indicated he wished to move on.

In the last eight years Richardson has served Stanley as player, coach and manager. Stanley’s season came to an end last Saturday with Richardson having enhanced his reputation by leading the Reds to League Two survival amid difficult circumstances at the Crown Ground this season.

Wages were paid late in March while club legend Jack Barrett recently passed away, along with midfielder Amine Linganzi’s brother and former manager Dennis Cook, the father of Stanley's groundsman Martyn Cook.

Former Accy manager Paul Cook (no relation) left the Reds last October to take charge of League Two rivals Chesterfield. The Spireites finished just outside the play-offs and will be going for promotion next season.

Richardson was Cook’s assistant at Stanley and became caretaker manager before being handed the job on a permanent basis in November. Richardson is expecting his second child this summer.

Cook reshuffled his backroom team at Chesterfield on Monday, with assistant manager Tommy Wright and reserve-team coach Mark Crossley leaving the club. Both had joined the Spireites along with Cook’s predecessor John Sheridan.

Stanley have begun their search for a new manager, with current assistant boss Paul Stephenson and first-team coach Paul Lodge taking over first-team affairs.